Gaki N Me If you love to talk about the world, love Asian idols, this is the place.

Artist: Mr. Children
Album: Shinkai 深海

1. Drive
2. シーラカンス / Coelacanth
3. 手纸 / Tegami
4. ありふれたラヴ•ストーリー~男女问题はいつも面倒だ / Arifureta Love Story – Danjomondai wa Itsu mo Mendou Da-
5. Mirror
6. Making Songs
7. 名もなき诗 Song Without a Name 
9. 临时ニュース / Rinji News
10. マシンガンをぶっ放せ / Machine Gun wo Buppanase
11. ゆりかごのある丘から / Yurikago no Aru Oka Kara
12. 虏 / Torido
13. 花 - Me - ' mento - Mori / Hana – Memento- Mori
14. 深海 / Shinkai


Mr Children: Coelacanth

02.04.09
Artist: Mr Children
Title: Coelacanth
Words: Sakurai Kazutoshi
Music: Sakurai Kazutoshi

Coelacanth
Are you still living at the bottom of the deep sea?
Coelacanth
Are you still dreaming of crossing the shining rainbow colored seas?

Some people say you're extinct.
Some people say that you still live, though they have nothing to base that on
. even so, if you're swimming in a swirling modern sea of megabytes and bits,
It doesn't really matter, it has no meaning or value.

Coelacanth
Are you still living at the bottom of the deep sea?
Coelacanth
Are you still dreaming of crossing the shining rainbow colored seas?

Some people say you're extinct.
Some people say that you still live, though they have nothing to base that on.
How can we find out the answer?
What kind of future should we be trying for, where should we bury our bones
there's so many choices.
in short we are free.
and so I'll be waiting for you faintly in a corner of my left brain.

Coelacanth
I have a feeling that you surely must have lived in my heart.
Coelacanth
Sometimes I search for you, in my lover.
and sometimes I find you.

Translated By: Brian Stewart &Takako Sakuma

Translator's Notes: A Coelacanth pictured here, is a prehistoric fish that supposedly no longer exists. The identifying feature of the fish was its hand and feet like fins, which through fossil study helped scientists link the evolution of fish to reptiles and then man. Honestly this song has been interpreted for years since it came out and no one can definitely say what Sakurai is getting at but that's half the fun. The left side of the brain is the creative side, so could that mean that Sakurai's looking for the spirit of adventure and invention?

Romaji

shi-rakansu
kimi ha mada fukai umi no soko de shizuka ni ikiteru no?
shi-rakansu
kimi ha mada nanairo ni hikaru umi wo wataru yume miru no?

aru hito ha iu, kimi ha horobita no da to
aru hito ha iu, konkyo mo naku ikiteru to
to ha ie kimi ga
kono gendai ni uzumaku mega ya bitto no umi wo oyoideita to shite mo
sore ga nandatte iu no ka
nanno imi mo nanno kachi mo nai sa

shi-rakansu
kimi ha mada fukai umi no soko de shizuka ni ikiteru no?
shi-rakansu
kimi ha mada nanairo ni hikaru umi wo wataru yume miru no?

aru hito ha iu, kimi ha horobita no da to
aru hito ha iu, konkyo mo naku ikiteru to
doushitara bokura kotae wo mitsukedaseru no
donna mirai wo mezasu mo doko ni hone wo umeru mo
sentakushi ha ikutsu datte aru
iu nareba jiyuu
soshite boku ha kasuka ni sanou no katasumi de kimi wo matteru

shi-rakansu
boku no kokoro no naka ni kimi ga
tashika ni sundeita you na ki sae mo suru
shi-rakansu
tokitama boku ha boku no aisuru hito no naka ni kimi wo sagashiteru
kimi wo mitsukedasetari suru

Romaji By: Brian Stewart



Mr. Children: Tegami (Letter)

Artist: Mr. Children
Title: Tegami (letter)

Words and Music: Sakurai Kazutoshi

to you who's gone from my life, to you of my memories
these days I'm realizing somethings can't be replaced.

we hurt each other making a big fuss over trifling matters,
now thinking of you, even then you'd always change into a smile.

i crossed the far off summer, beyond the fall,
i think of you.
even now I want to meet you, i'm so lonely
though i hate my foolish self.

to you who's gone from my life, to you of my memories
I guess you'll be sleeping in another's arms now,
even though its Spring when flowers stream in the wind.

Translated By: Brian Stewart &Takako Sakuma

Translator's Notes: This song is so sad. Its one of my personal favorites from the Shinkai album. Its so poignant for with few words. I don't think anyone who's ever been in love can help but to get teary eyed upon hearing this.


Mr. Children: Arifureta Love Story

Artist: Mr. Children
Title: Arifureta LOVE STORY (An Everyday Love Story~problems between men and women are always a pain)
Words: Sakurai Kazutoshi
Music: Sakurai Kazutoshi

those two had believed in a love which never changed
they had walked the passing seasons
they say its youthful ignorance
a love story of two run of the mill people.

he drags his heavy bag, a business man running up and down the city
a lifestyle spent passing things by so he can catch up
so distantly seperated from his dreams, he gets irritated, he gets confused

cause there's rarely love encounters like in movies,
we rely on the people around us to help us look for love.
she's just came to the big city from her town
holding suspicion and curiosity in both hands
everday going through these hard struggles...

and then love was born, they thought they could control the lines of destiny
love never runs out, and feelings never change
they believed so.

at last they began living together
in a condo too elegant for thier age.
respecting each other's privacy
it should have been kept well balanced,
but life is always complicated.

and one day in a bad mood, they growl at each other
even though they know their passion is cooling,
they let it slide, making like they don't notice.

they pose as adults but
they can't throw away their egos
falling asleep holding each other so there is some coherence.

"love never fades, nothing can defeat it" are these the tactics of pop songs ?
if so what should we believe then ?
it sounds all well and good, "to head to tomorrow" but...
because our love's gotten complicated it can't go back to friendship.
problems between men and women are always a pain
and then love was broken off
they swallow anything and everything and go on to the future, go away, go on.

Translated By: Brian Stewart and Takako Sakuma

Translator's Notes: This was a pretty sad song to translate but very realistic somehow... Anyhow, here's the part we need to clarify, we weren't sure if the part beginning with "and one day in a bad mood..." meant their passion was cooling, or the bad feeelings that bred between them dissipated and they forgot about all the fighting they did, and thought they were happy. Either way its the same general feeling, but Takko and I weren't sure which way to go. I think there is a mistake in the kanji, it says issaigassai (everything) but the sai should be "saifu" no sai not "kiru" no sai. I wonder if this is fixed on later editions. If anyone knows some deeper meaning here, drop us a line. This is a song about children playing adult roles. Thus the condo too elegant for their age, I've heard this story before, it goes like this, fresh out of childhood, two people fall in love and hurry towards the inevitable move-in and then end up tearing into each other because at heart they are still kids. I hope no one has to go through this, but it does make your skin tougher.



Mirror
Words & Music by Sakurai Kazutoshi/Arrangement by Kobayashi Takeshi & Mr. Children
Itsunomani yariba mo naku konna omoi wo idaiteta
(Unawares, not knowing which way to look, I'd held this feeling)
Arifurete tsukaifurushita kotoba wo narabete
(Lining up words that are mundane and trite)
oh Love Love Love......
oh Love Love Love......

Madogiwa ni koshi wo oroshite fookugitaa narashite wa
(Sitting by the window, playing the folk guitar)
Kazedachinu yuugure no sora ni muke utau
(I sing facing the windless evening sky)
Sorya roku demo naku poppu nante mono demo naku
(It is neither something good nor something pop)
Mashite hitto no kizashi mo nai
(Not to mention no signs of becoming a hit)
Tada anata e to omoi wo hashiraseta
Tanjunmeikaina Love Song
(But merely a simple clear Love Song
that sent my thought to you)

Hodou ni sotte shiawasesou ni
Arukidashita koibito tachi wo
Urayamu you ni tataeru you ni
(As if envying and extoling
The lovers who started walking
Along the paved street, looking blissful)
Sotto kimi wo matteiru
(I am quietly waiting for you)

Hitomae de naita koto no nai Sonna tsuyokina anata demo
(Even you who are so strong that you have never cried in front of people)
Zetsubou no fuchi ni tatte mayou hi mo aru deshou
(Have days when you hesitate standing in the depths of despair, right?)
Yume ni kakaru niji no hashi
(The rainbow bridge hanging in your dream)
Kobou no hikari no ya
(The arrow of the light of hope)
Ai wo tsutsumu oorora no kaaten
(The curtain of aurora that enfolds love)
Sono subete ga usoppachi ni miete Jibun wo miushinau you na toki wa
(When everything appears to be a downright lie and you lose sight of yourself)
Anata ga dare de nan no tame ni ikiteru ka Sono nazo ga hayaku tokeru you ni
(In order to quickly solve the mystery of for whom and for what reason you are living)
Kagami tonari Soba ni tachi Anata wo utsushitsudzukeyou
(Standing next to the mirror Let's continue reflecting you)
Sou negau kyou kono goro desu
(Such is my wish today)

http://www-cs-students.stanford.edu/~hyan/jpop/mirror.html




Mr. Children: Na mo Naki Uta (Song Without a Name)

Artist: Mr. Children
Title: na mo naki uta (Song without a name)

Words and Music: Sakurai Kazutoshi

if its just a little bit spoiled, I'm gonna eat it without leaving anything left over.
Oh darling, who are you ?
holding tight to reality.
if you're doubting me, I'll cut my throat for you.
Oh darling, I am a simpleton.
I'll give you something precious.

Standing amongst the annoyed denizens of the city
We don't seem to have our true feelings...

in such an incongruous lifetime
don't you sometimes get emotionally distraught ?
But darling, we'll worry together
I'll devote my life to you.
Blaming somebody else for being too weak
to live with my heart as it is
if you're struggling
in the cage of the self, built up before you knew it,
then so am I.

no matter how close a kindred mind, a lonely night is coming.
oh darling, surely this ill feeling won't disappear.

I've come to make various things my stepping stones but
I get the feeling at last I've found something I'm not supposed to lose.

as your mannerisms get more humourous,
they make my feelings gentler
Oh darlin' let me hear the story of dreams everytime we meet.

Surely love is not something which I give or take,
when I look around, its just there.
i sing as the city wind blows on me,
i should throw away that strange pride.
and begin from there.

despair, disappointment (DOWN)
what did you bury ?
love, freedom, hope, dreams, (courage)
Look down, you can surely find them at your feet.

falling into a love which takes its own course, even if sometimes someone gets hurt,
its not a wound to their heart everytime, if you sympathize with somebody, it comes back
to haunt you and its your own heart which is stabbed.

but...
Because I wish to live with my heart as it is,
again I'm going to hurt someone.
if you're struggling
in the cage of the self, built up before you knew it,
everyone has the same problem, and so do I.

something without a shape called "love"
its always hard to relate it to someone,
that's why darlin' this song without a name
is forever dedicated to you.
Translated By: Brian Stewart &Takako Sakuma

Translator's Notes: Think of "My heart as it is" As simply not wanting to the way you
seethings for the sake of this complicated thing called love. The singer isn't saying
he doesn't love because of this, but he wants to be loved for who he is. I like the
realistic approach Mr. Children has towards relationships. The girl in this song makes
Sakurai realize what's important to him.







Mr Children: Machinegun wo Buppanase

03.06.27
Artist: Mr Children
Title: Machinegun wo Buppanase (Spray Machinegun Fire)
Words:Sakurai Kazutoshi
Music: Sakurai Kazutoshi

That newscaster speaks on behalf of humanity,
when he says,
"What are they thinking still testing nuclear weapons?"
suck on love
cling to love

I get by trying not to see the inevitable fact "I will die",
but it's a shame, there's no point to my life.
love the absurdity before you
hate the convenient morals
and then give me ability.

Spray machinegun fire at the invisible enemy.
Sister and Brother
you're a soldier marching
in this age where there're no goodguys or badguys.
The saints and killers and ordinary folk
have no choice but to get along,
even if I let sleeping dogs lie they still bite. *1
You won't hear the song of salvation.

Challenge with a study guide
and you'll never solve the mystery.
the good person who values wisdom
is in and of itself a sin.
love this plague before you
hate the incompetent organizations *2
and then give me a condom.

I will rise and then fall, grasping money in place of love.
I hit the person I couldn't stand up to, acting like an angel.
I don't expect there's anyone honest enough to say,
"the poison spider, the dog and the suckling child
need to live in harmony together"
face reality.

love your average life
and that person in the mirror
hate that tragedy that unfolds,
and the insinct we've domesticated
expose them for what they are.

Spray machinegun fire at the invisible enemy.
Sister and Brother
This is an anger like spit aimed at the heavens
with nowhere to go but down. *3
It's a tragedy that we can believe in
religion, science and UFOs,
all of them tangled together,
deceiving ourselves, everyday blinding
I will rise and then fall,
to a world in which all these things go unchecked.

Translated By: Brian Stewart & Takako Sakuma

Translator's Notes: The title image is of someone blindly firing off a machine gun into nothingness, with a paranoid flourish. On to the *s!

*1 - This is an idiom, the kanji in the lyrics book is a typo.

*2 - Goverment, Religion, Business... etc.

* 3 - When you spit towards the sky, it falls back down onto you. Sakurai is implying that this anger is indirectly aimed at himself, and is thus pointless.

Romaji

ano nyu-sukyasuta- ga jinrui wo daiben shite shaberu
'mata kakujikken wo suru nante ittai dou iu tsumori?'
ai ni shaburitsuitansai
ai ni sugaritsuitansai

yagate kuru 'shi no sonzai'ni me wo somuke sugosu kedo
zannen desu ga boku ga ikiteiru koto ni imi ha nai
aise yo me no mae no fukyouri wo
nikume yo tsugou no ii doutoku wo
soshite boku ni sainou wo kure

mienai teki n mashingan wo buppanase Sister and Brother
seigi mo aku mo nai kono jidai wo
koushin shiteku heishi desu
satsujinki mo seijya mo heijin mo
kyouzon shiteku shika nain desu ne
sawaranakutatte kami ha tatacchau
sukui no uta ha kikoecha konai sa

sankousho wo motte idondan jya isshou nazo ha tokenu
ryoushiki wo omonjiru zennin ga mo haya tsumi da yo
aise yo me no mae no ekibyou wo
nikume yo munou naru soushiki wo
soshite boku ni condomu wo kure

boku ha nobori mata ochiteyuku ai ni nita kane wo nigitte
douse sakeraenu hito wo nagutta
tenshi no you na suburi de
dokugumo mo inu mo chinomigo mo
kyouzon subeki da yo to itte
itsuwarazaru hito ga iru hazu nai jyan
kono genjitsu ni me wo mukenasai

mienai teki ni mashingan wo buppanase Sister and Brother
ten ni tsuba wo hakikakeru you na ikiba no nai ikari desu
shuukyou mo kagaku mo UFO mo shinjireru kara hizan de
karamiatte honshin itsuwatte
mekurumeku no everyday
boku ha nobori mata ochiteyuku
nandatte makaritooru sekai he

Romaji By: Brian Stewart

Mr Children: Yurikago no Aru Oka kara

02.04.09
Artist: Mr Children
Title: Yurikago no Aru Oka kara (From the Hill Where the Cradle Is)
Words: Sakurai Kazutoshi
Music: Sakurai Kazutoshi

The gentle wind was blowing on the grassy plain.
the flower and grasses danced the waltz all day long.
the honeybees brought the hymn of the birds
to our ears, flying back and forth.

the cradle is always there
everytime I touch your hair as you sit there,
a soft scent wraps around me,
and before I know it I'm kissing your hair.

we always arranged to meet each other here
I used to eat the lunch you made for me...

but while I was on the battlefield
you went and grew up on me,
even though I survived to come back here,
always believing in our promise
you were already in someone else's arms,
and I was alone.

in my tired confused state,
the grassy field surrounds me with a kindness just like that day,
I won the battle but I lost something precious,
what on earth was I doing?

I put the picture of you resting your head on my shoulder
into the cradle and look at it.

Reading over the only letter you sent me,
a loneliness I hadn't noticed overcame me,
even if I whisper "I'm sorry", nothing will come of it,
the pain just tightens in my chest
Ah while I was on the battlefield
you were already in someone else's arms
and I was alone.

Translated: Brian Stewart &Takako Sakuma

Translator's Notes: The line ...tabeteta kke... In spoken Japanese, usually the attatchment kke refers to trying to recall a fact that you are unsure of. Such as if you were to meet your friend whose job you're not entirely sure of, you could say aa Miki-chan ha OL dakke? or if you yourself are unaware of what you might have said... when someone reminds you... ano ne... 3 ji ni machiawase surun jyanai no? you can say 3 ji tte iitta kke? Anyway this usage of it is different, the singer is going over the memories fondly. kke can also be used in this manner.

Romaji

sougen ni ha yasashii kaze ga fuiteite
kusabanatachi ga ichinichijyuu warutsu wo odotteta
toritachi no sanbika wo mitsubachi ga hakondekite
sore ga bokura no mimimoto de tobikatteta

yurikago ga soko ni ha itsumo oiteari
koshi kaketa kimi no yureru kami wo naderu tabi
yawaraka na kaori ni tsutsumikomi
omowazu boku ha sono kami ni kisu wo suru

itsumo koko de machiawasete
kimi notsukutta ranchi tabetetakke....

demo boku ha senjo ni itteiru sono aida
kimi ha otona ni natteshimatteite
ano yakusoku wo tayori ni ikinobite modotta no ni
kimi ha mou chigau dareka no ude no naka
soshite boku ha hitori

sougen ha ano hi no mama no yasashisa de
kutabirete tomadou boku wo sotto tsutsumikomu
arasoi ni katta kedo daiji na mono wo ushinatte
ittai boku ha nani wo shiteita no darou

boku no kata ni atama noseta
kimi no shashin yurikago ni oite mite

ichido dake kimi ga kureta tegami wo yomikaeshitara
kizukenakatta sabishisa ga futtekite
gomen ne to tsubuyaitemo mou dou naru wake demo naku
setsunasa gyutto mune wo shimetsukeru
Ah boku ga senjo ni itteiru sono aida
kimi ha mou chigau dareka no ude no naka
soshite boku ha hitori

Romaji By: Brian Stewart



Mr Children: Toriko

03.09.05
Artist: Mr Children
Title: Toriko (Prisoner)
Words: Sakurai Kazutoshi
Music: Sakurai Kazutoshi

The more eloquently I speak,
the more you go on the defensive,
choosing your words carefully.
What's going on?
You don't even try to understand the real me.

You went to see him Friday, didn't you?
Could you break it off without a hitch?
How was it? I'd like to know,
just how much of a bitch you are. *1

After we f**ked like crazy
it's heart-wrenching
I want to f**king hurt you.
I know it's reckless of me, but I want to be with you
I want to believe in love.

I heard through my best friend,
a rumor that you were a tough customer,
Screw him, He doesn't know the new you.

It's probably because you had such a miserable childhood,
that you seem to be starved for affection,
still dragging that lonely little girl with you.
I want to be restrained always, til I become impotent. *2

take me to Heaven
Give me your love

Whether asleep or awake,
you won't leave my thoughts,
I guess I'll become your prisoner and rise to heaven

Translated By: Brian Stewart & Takako Sakuma

Translator's Notes: On to the *'s!

*1 - Get the feeling that this girl didn't break it off with the guy, and she's still seeing him on the side.

*2 - Not as in 'can't get it up' as in powerless, helpless, dependent.

Romaji

yuuben ni shabereba shaberu hodo
shinchou na kimi ha mata migamaeru
dou natten da? wakattekure ya shinai
hontou no ore wo

kinyoubi ni yatsu ni attekitarou?
kantan ni wakarekiridaseta no?
dou nattan da haaku shiteitai
saitei na kimi wo

kurutta you ni dakishimeatta ato de
mune no oku ga kishimu yo
mechakucha ni kizutsukete mitai kibun
mubou na no ha shouchi da ze dakedo soba ni itai
ai wo shinjitai

shinyuu kara kiita uwasa ni yorya
soutou kuse no aru onna datte koto
nandatten da!! wakatteya shinai
saishin no kimi wo

yasashisa ni uete mieru no ha tabun
hikutsu na kako no handou
kodoku na shoujyo wo hikizutten darou
funou ni naru made zutto shibaku saretetai

take me to Heaven
give me your love

nete mo samete mo
kimi ga hanarenai
toriko ni natte tengoku he noborou ka

Romaji By: Brian Stewart




Mr. Children: hana ~memento mori (flower ~a reminder of death)

Artist: Mr. Children
Title: hana ~memento mori (flower ~a reminder of death)

A well traveled path colored by sighs.
I'll get sucked into the crowd
count the dreams which somehow just vanished.

Friends my own age are starting families
everyone knows there are many outlooks on life,
you can still change sadness into gentleness and live.

So that I won't lose and I won't wilt
I'll be a laughing blooming flower
When I find myself suddenly lost, I'll collect the wind and
take to the sky, now.

Love can't relate to you its philosophies and heated arguments.
all we can do is softly pray so this feeling doesn't fade away.
I wish not to be naive, to be held, to spereate this sadness among us.

Because surely a life size me will be loved,
Even supposing its reckless, I'll paint the ultimate dream
I don't care if they laugh.

At last I understand it, even if everything is randomly destined.
Even if I have to bear a little risk, I want to try ! Love Love !

chorus
lalala...in my heart eternally that flower blooms.

Translated by: Brian Stewart &Takako Sakuma


Mr Children: Shinkai

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

03.09.24
Artist: Mr Children
Title: Shinkai (The Deep Sea)
Words: Sakurai Kazutoshi
Music: Sakurai Kazutoshi

In the back of my heart deep down there,
your image wavers on the deep sea.
when I was an innocent boy,
I chased after you with all my might
how I'd chase you...

Coelacanth
What will you evolve into next?
Coelacanth
Where are you heading for next?

There's nothing to lose,
but to tell the truth, I'm fond of myself.
It's because I wander the deep empty forest
that I now long for death.

Coelacanth
What will you evolve into next?
Coelacanth
Where are you heading for next?

won't you bring me with you?
won't you take me back there?
me, me too.

Translated By: Brian Stewart & Takako Sakuma

Romaji

boku no kokoro no oku fukaku
shinkai de kimi no kage yureru
adokenakatta hi no boku ha
muchuu de kimi wo oikaketeta kke

shi-rakansu
korekara kimi ha doko he susumun dai
shi-rakansu
korekara kimi ha doko he mukaun dai

nakusu mono nado nanimo nai
to ha ie wagami ha kawaikute
kuukyo na jyukai wo samayou kara
ima jya shi ni yuku koto ni sae akogareru no sa

shi-rakansu
korekara kimi ha doko he susumun dai
shi-rakansu
korekara kimi ha doko he mukaun dai
shi-rakansu
korekara kimi ha doko he susumun dai

tsuretettekurenai ka
tsremodoshitekurenai ka
boku wo, boku mo

Romaji By: Brian Stewart


Credit: http://centigrade.blandplanet.com/translations/mrchildren.htm